Stephen And The Mine

Written by Helen Farrall


Stephen the "Rocket" Engine claims to have the courage to handle almost anything and never tires of boasting about it!

… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … …

"…and then there was that time I won against four other engines at the Rainhill Trials!" he boasted one day to the tourists, as he brought them back to the Estate.

"Here we go again…" Glynn groaned, as his passengers embarked his carriages.

"I felt at my absolute lowest point," he admitted. "I was way behind and felt as if I couldn't build up enough steam! Then, it happened! Driver stoked hard at my firebox and off I went, peeOWWWW past all the others and straight to the finish line!"

The passengers all reacted with awe and wonder, disembarking the train as Stephen went on.

"I knew I had it in me, of course. I wasn't called "The Rocket" back in my day for nothing, you know!"

"Alright, everyone!" the guard inadvertently cut off. "Exit the platform that way to your right!"

The passengers scurried away, as Stephen watched with bewilderment.

"Oh," he thought for a second, puzzled, then beamed. "Well, ummm…thanks for listening! Be sure to come back next time for another of Stephen's Tour Tales!"

Glynn smiled meekly as he left with his own tour.

… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … …

"It's legend!" he boasted to a group of tourists at the castle.

Millie and Glynn glanced at each other with dismay.

"As many adventures as I had back in my day, none were more daunting or daring than the time I braved stormy weather to deliver a ship's boiler to harbor!"

The tourists were all chattering amongst themselves, but Stephen took no notice and went on.

"The water was sloshing from under the tracks! By the time I was nearly there, I had hardly enough sand left! But I struggled on!"

"Hate to interrupt, Stephen," Millie inquired, smiling doubtfully, "but why would you need more sand to carry on when you were almost there?"

"That's the point, Millie!" Stephen replied. "My sandbox was nearly empty! But I didn't give up! Ship made it out all in good time too!"

"Why would sand make it difficult for you to push that extra mile?"

Stephen thought for a moment, then blushed.

"Errrrr…hey! While I have you all here, why don't I tell you about the time I pulled that heavy goods train up the mountain for the villagers at Culdee Fell?!"

Glynn sighed with dismay, as Stephen started.

"Oh dear," he expressed. "Stephen's stories can get very tiresome after a while!"

"Hmph!" Millie huffed in response, observing the chattering passengers on the platform. "And to think that 'is crowd is actually paying attention!"

Unfortunately, not many of the passengers have the time to listen to Stephen's stories, and his colleagues Glynn and Millie can find them rather tiresome…


One day, Thomas was taking some visitors up to Ulfstead Castle.

"One…more…stretch!" he groaned.

He pulled hard at the last moment and made it to the top, with the castle in plain sight.

"Phew!" he sighed. "Made it!"

The coaches sighed, slightly impressively.

"Take a look around, Annie and Clarabel!" he encouraged. "Splendid view, isn't it?"

"Yes, indeed, Thomas!" Annie agreed.

"I can't see much from back here!" Clarabel moaned.

Thomas chuckled.

"You will once we reach the Estate!" he beamed.

Thomas arrived at the platform by the Estate; by the time he got there, Stephen was already telling the passengers a story Thomas himself knew only too well…!

"…and so that was how I swooped in like a knight in shining armor and recovered King Godred's crown!"

"Swooped in?" Thomas wondered with confusion.

Glynn sighed and looked at the tank engine with dismay as Stephen finished his story.

"And to this day, the crown stands with pride and dignity as one of the main artifacts of the castle!"

"Oh, boy," Glynn groaned. "There he goes again, Thomas! Third time this week he's told it too!"

Thomas raised an eyebrow and beamed.

"I can point it out to you on our tour if that would be of any interest! There's just absolutely nothing I'm afraid of doing, you see!"

Thomas chuckled.

"Has Stephen ever told you all about how he got stuck in the mine and really found King Godred's crown?"

Glynn laughed along.

"I've heard brief things about it!" he admitted.

Stephen blushed, but Thomas just laughed.

"He got stuck and had to be rescued, Glynn!" he informed the Coffeepot engine.

"Ooh," Glynn wondered, smiling as he looked over at the Rocket engine. "Is that true, Stephen?"

Stephen smiled confidently.

"Yes!" he admitted, "but I wasn't scared, of course! After all, I discovered King Godred's crown!"

Thomas chuckled as he set off with Annie and Clarabel, who managed a slight smile themselves.

"Have you ever been to the mine since, Stephen?" Glynn wondered.

"Not in the slightest!" Stephen denied, rather sure of himself.

"Ooh," Glynn chuckled. "Why not then?"

Stephen let off a loud toot as he took with his carriages full of passengers.

"Just haven't found the time!" he concluded, as he pulled the train away.

Glynn smiled as he watched him set off.


Stephen took his passengers for a detailed tour around the castlegrounds.

"First sight on our tour is the Ferris Wheel!" he pointed out, as he exited the Estate.

Visitors looked in awe and amazement at the attraction as it spun steadily around.

"One of our latest additions here at Ulfstead! Anyway, let's carry on. Much more to see!"

… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … …

"And this, my fellow visitors," he went on, "is the groundskeeper's lodge. Lots of gardening done around these parts of the castle!"

Millie smiled as he watched Stephen carry on.

"Look, mummy, a deer!" a little girl cried out.

Stephen looked around at the flock of deer that ran beside the line.

"Oh, yes," Stephen chuckled. "Ulfstead is also home to lots of deer that live in the forest. Which reminds me, that's where we're headed next!"

Stephen took the visitors through the woodland trail, allowing them to view it with awe and wonder.

"Ooh," one marveled.

"Ah!" wondered another.

Stephen hummed quietly as he continued along, observing all the lovely sights of the forest around him.

As Stephen went back around in a loop towards the Dinosaur Park, he approached a sight he knew only too well.

"Come along!" he encouraged, "very important sight coming up so keep on the lookout!"

"Hey, look!" one passenger pointed out. "Over there! Didn't that used to be the old abandoned mine?"

"Oh, boy!" another added. "I've been here plenty of times to know what that looks like?"

"Hey! Stephen!" a third one requested, "would you care to let us have a closer look?"

"Sorry," Stephen beamed. "But the mine's closed off for construction! Not to worry though. You're going to really enjoy this next bit, I assure you!"

They reached the Dinosaur Park right on schedule and Stephen felt very pleased with himself!

"Phew!" he sighed with relief. "Made it! Dodged the old mine too! Can't bear to think what it would be like to get lost again!"

He took his passengers steadily around the Park so they could see the attractions up close.

"Other than that," he went on to himself, "there's absolutely nothing the Rocket could possibly be afraid of…woaAHHHHH!"

He gasped in surprise, startled by the sound of a roar by the one of the dinosaur attraction.

"Oh," he thought, then laughed. "I knew it wasn't a real dinosaur!"

He proceeded to venture around the grounds of the Park, looking round at all the attractions.

"No fear, folks!" he said aloud, "the Rocket has it all under control!"


After the tour, Stephen dropped the visitors off at the castle for their tea break!

"Here he comes, Glynn!" Millie quietly giggled.

Glynn chuckled quietly along with her, as Stephen approached from over the drawbridge.

"Welcome!" the Earl called out, opening his arms wide. "Come along now, and join me inside the castle for some lovely refreshments while you take a break from the tour!"

The chattering passengers exited the carriages and followed the Earl inside the castle. Stephen glanced over at his two colleagues, and caught them quietly laughing.

"What are you two giggling about?" he demanded, raising an eyebrow with confusion.

"I heard about how frightened you were being trapped in that mine, Stephen!" Millie teased, giggling playfully.

Glynn chuckled as well.

"Oh, yes," Glynn added, chuckling, "and to think of hearing him all day that he wasn't scared of anything!"

"I wasn't frightened!" Stephen insisted. "And besides, either of you would be equally concerned if you were stuck in the mine like I was!"

"We would, Stephen!" Millie admitted, "but we thought you of all engines had the courage to handle almost anything!"

"I do!" Stephen reminded them. "And I discovered a historical crown to prove it!"

Millie glanced over at Glynn; the two of them had a plan to teach the Rocket engine sense!

"If you're as courageous as you say, Stephen," Glynn suggested, "then why don't you go pay a visit to the mine yourself while the visitors are enjoying their tea?"

Stephen raised an eyebrow.

"What's in it for me?" he wondered.

"We'll handle your share of the waste duty for the next month!" Millie insisted.

"Hmm…" Stephen pondered.

Millie and Glynn watched anxiously as he thought for a moment, before beaming confidently.

"Alright!" he agreed. "Deal's a deal! I'll head over there straight away!"

And he started off, whistling loudly, as the pair glanced at each other with a look of hope, while giggling quietly to each other.


Along the way to the mine, Stephen felt pretty confident that he could show his friends how brave he was.

"I'll show them!" he assured himself. "I'm not afraid of any old mine!"

He beamed courageously as he pressed further on.

But once he arrived at the entrance, he was not quite as sure!

Stephen gulped as he looked at the entrance to the mine.

"Oh, dear," he sighed worriedly.

Already, Stephen was beginning to have flashbacks of when he got stuck in the mine.

"I was stuck down there for a very long time!" he reminisced. "And it wasn't till Thomas found my funnel and shouted my name that I was able to get out!"

He looked ahead at the darkness of the mine before him and took a deep breath.

"Easy now, Stephen," he assured himself. "They'll be along soon! They're all just enjoying their teas and coffees…"

He ventured slowly forward as he murmured to himself.

"…and scones!"

Stephen was able to make it past the barrier, slowly but surely.

"There's nothing scary about an old mine!"

However, it didn't take long for him after traveling a few more inches before…

"Oof!" he groaned, hitting a bump in the track. "That's done it!"

He looked further down into the dark mine as his headlamp shone ahead.

Stephen gulped and whimpered quietly.

"I can't do this!" he groaned. "I'll only get lost again!"

He reversed out of the mine, with a plan fresh in mind.

"How about I just not and say I did?" he decided. "Those visitors are bound to believe my story anyway!"

He chuckled wisely, as he set off back for the castle.


Stephen arrived back at the castle just as the passengers were finished with their tea.

"Guess what you two!" he boasted. "I did it!"

"Did what, Stephen?" Glynn wondered, perplexedly.

"Went into the mine! Made it in and out and without a scratch on me either!"

Millie and Glynn exchanged a glance of astonishment, as Stephen's passengers climbed back aboard.

"Well," he claimed, letting off a loud toot. "Must be off! Much more to see and lots to tell about my little visit to the mine! I'll give you two an update on it later!"

The pair watched with surprise, as he set off

"And by the way," he called from a distance, "good luck with covering my share of the waste duty for the rest of the month!"

"Hmph!" Millie huffed, as he watched him set off.

"Oh, my," Glynn groaned.


Stephen went on about his venture into the mine all day long…

… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … …

"It was epic, Harvey!" he informed the crane engine, who was lifting up a fallen attraction on his track. "I swooped in and out just like that, without a worry at all!"

"Oh, wow, Stephen!" Harvey marveled, listening on.

"Lots of wobbly bends and curvy intersections! Quite dark in there too! I wasn't scared, of course! And guess what else…"

At last, the attraction was cleared and set back up, causing Stephen to sigh.

"Alright, everyone! Let's move on! Much more to see!"

He groaned as he pressed on, looking the other way with a frown.

"Great story, Stephen!" Harvey called after him.

But Stephen was too far away to hear!

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"Easy as pie, it was, Gator!" he informed the sloping tank engine at the castlegrounds.

"Was it?" Gator gazed, as his stone trucks were emptied.

"Indeed it was!" Stephen went on. "And do you know why, Gator?"

"Why?" Gator asked, confused.

"It's because I am the famous Rocket! At least that's what they called me back in my day! There's absolutely nothing I can't handle! I know that line now like the back of my buffers!"

Millie spluttered with frustration as she left the lodge with her own trucks! Gator whistled as his last truck was emptied.

"Sorry, Stephen! Great story, but I must get going back to the quarry now!"

"Oh," Stephen thought, managing a slight frown.

"Come to think of it, the old mine is one of my stops on the way back! Cheers now!"

"Bye!" Stephen called out. "Thanks for listening!"

He managed a slight beam as he moved gently forward.

… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … …

"That venture backinto the mine has got to be one of my greatest escapades yet!" he informed Toby at the Estate, as the workmen boarded Henrietta. "I tell you, Toby, I'm very glad to gone back! I never would have conquered my fear otherwise!"

"Ooh," Toby marveled, managing a slight chuckle.

Stephen gasped suddenly.

"Ermm…was that bit too loud?"

Stephen sighed slightly as Toby smiled, while Glynn groaned meekly.

"Anywho," Stephen went on. "I sure wasn't scared of, at every twist and turn, bump and buckle!"

Millie arrived in time to hear Stephen boasting, and huffed heavily.

"It's where I found King Godred's golden crown, of course! Can't think of anyway else that…"

His speech was cut off by Henrietta's guard's whistle and the sound of Toby's bell.

"Sorry, Stephen!" Toby called out. "But I must get these workmen home! Take care now!"

"Thank you!" Stephen whistled to himself. "Be sure to come back so I can finish right where I left off! Like when I rocketed out of that mine, peeeeOWWWW!"

"Oh, dear, Glynn," Millie groaned sadly. "'e's worse than ever! I'm sorry our plan didn't work!"

"It is getting kind of weary!" Glynn agreed. "If only we could think of a better way to stop it once and for all!"

Millie sighed with dismay.

At that moment, Glynn's driver returned.

"Ah, Glynn. Just spoke with the Earl! Some empty trucks have run away from Gator on his way back to the Quarry! The Earl is wondering if you would be good enough to pick up those empty trucks and bring them back to the Quarry!"

Glynn had a plan to see if Stephen was really being sincere.

"I'm sure Stephen wouldn't mind going. Now, would you, Stephen?"

"Me?!" Stephen spluttered. "I can't go!"

Millie giggled.

"What's the matter, Stephen? I thought you knew that old mine like the back of your buffers!"

"Well, I do," Stephen stammered, "but, eh…"

Millie and Glynn glanced at each other with a smirk.

"I, uh, just remembered that I have to attend to some strictly confidential business with the Earl at the castle instead!"

He rushed off, while Glynn groaned, setting off for the mine.


Glynn made his way along to the old mine, though he was slightly puzzled.

"Why couldn't Gator collect the empty trucks himself?" he wondered.

"He needed to report back to the Quarry for another urgent job!" his driver informed him. "So the Earl wants us to bring back the empty trucks ourselves!"

"Mmm…" Glynn murmured.

He reached the entrance to the old mine and smiled confidently as he looked ahead. He took a deep breath before venturing forward.

As Glynn set his wheels into the old mine, everything looked different than it did up top.

"Oof," Glynn winced, as he rattled over the loose track.

Tracks were wobbly and sharp bends came at him when he least expected it.

"Woah," he wailed, as he encountered a curve.

The bend led him straight around in sight of everything else!

"Oh, my," he marveled, as he gazed all round at his surroundings.

All around, Glynn discovered many things, such as dark tunnel entrances and trucks full of lead…

Heaps of lead sparkled as Glynn passed by.

and wobbly beams which held up tracks above him. Glynn was starting to get a little anxious.

"Get clear!" a voice shouted from above.

Glynn gasped and shut his eyes, as an explosion went off from above.

"Oh, dear," Glynn thought. "I wonder if Stephen could have really been courageous enough to be down in a place like this!"

"Look, Glynn!" his driver called, pointing to a siding nearby. "Over there!"

Glynn looked over to see a line of empty trucks in the siding his driver was pointing to.

"Those are the trucks that went missing from Gator! We found them!"

He smiled as he chuffed further on.

Glynn went around in a loop and backed down into the siding. His driver hitched him up to the empty trucks.

"Now," Glynn decided, as he pulled out of the siding. "It's off to the quarry with these trucks!"

As Glynn made it on his way out, another explosion went off in the mine.

"Everyone! Steer clear!" a foreman shouted out.

All at once, the track wobbled and rocks came tumbling down. Glynn winced and shut his eyes. Then suddenly…

"Oof!" he groaned.

Something had dropped down and hit Glynn on the side. His headlamp went out! His driver hopped off and inspected it.

"Hmm…" he thought, pointing towards Glynn's side. "It looks as though one of these fallen rocks has hit your side! It's also knocked your lamp out. We shan't press on any further with your lamp in this condition!"

"Oh, dear," Glynn groaned.

"Not to worry," his driver soothed, backing him down into a siding. "I'll telephone for help!"

Glynn's driver left him in a siding, then took his flashlight with him to find the nearest telephone pole! All Glynn was wait around in the darkness and listen to explosions go off in the mine.

Glynn winced and groaned as the next explosion went off, then sighed with dismay.

His driver was able to find a telephone pole and was able to phone ahead to Ulfstead Castle.


Meanwhile, Stephen was still on his way to the castle, and was feeling very pleased with himself!

"Astonishing!" he gloated to himself. "How I was able to back out of going to that mine twice! Might be worth telling a Tour Tale all about that!"

He thought to himself, then chuckled.

"Why, they all might say that at least I had the courage to get away with it!"

He arrived back at the castle, but as he arrived, he found the Earl looking very concerned.

"Ermm, is everything okay, sir?" Stephen wondered.

The Earl took a deep breath.

"Glynn is stuck down in the mine!" he informed him.

"Oh, my!" Stephen gasped.

"His headlamp had been damaged by a fallen rock and his driver telephoned my office for help!"

Stephen listened with concern as he went on.

"Without a headlamp, Glynn can't move on in the dark, otherwise he might need a little bit of more rescuing…hmm…"

Stephen smirked wittily.

"You don't suppose they'd have cranes down there in the mine, do you, sir?" he remarked, jokingly.

The Earl shot him a serious look.

"Please, Stephen, would you be so kind as to go down and rescue Glynn from that mine?"

Stephen gasped.

"Oh, sir, I simply can't!"

"Why?" the Earl wondered.

"I, err…must attend to the next tour, sir!"

"The next tour doesn't go out for quite some time, Stephen!"

Stephen groaned.

"Mmmm…can't Millie go, sir? The old mine might carry her weight better than it would with mine!"

"What nonsense, Stephen!" the Earl insisted. "And besides, Millie's gone off to collect the waste!"

"Oh," Stephen thought, remembering.

"Which reminds me," the Earl reminded him, raising an eyebrow. "Wasn't it supposed to be your turn to collect the waste today, Stephen?"

Stephen groaned with embarrassment, and went a deep shade of red.

"Oh, dear," he groaned. "I guess Glynn really does need my help after all!"

"Yes, Stephen!" the Earl stressed. "And you are his only hope at this point in getting out of there!"

"But, sir," Stephen protested, stammering. "There's got to be another way! Maybe, a…errr…search party or something?"

"I'm sorry, Stephen, but time is rather pressing with tours coming out later in the day, and as of now, you are the most convenient means of getting Glynn out of that mine!"

"But…but…what if I get lost again?"

"Lost, Stephen?!" the Earl expressed.

"Yes, sir. I simply can't afford to let that happen again, otherwise you'll have two engines missing!"

"Oh, nonsense! It was only a long time ago, and besides, you should be fine as long as you have a headlamp!"

"Hmm…" Stephen thought. "Well, I do suppose you're right, sir."

"Yes, Stephen! And right now, poor Glynn is counting on you!"

"You're right, sir!" Stephen realized. "Perhaps, I should go rescue Glynn after all!"

"Oh, do go on, Stephen!" the Earl encouraged, with an emphatic grin on his face. "Go get Glynn out of that mine!"

"I will, sir!"

He whistled loudly as he set off, thundering over the drawbridge.

"Hang on, Glynn! I'm coming!" he called out.


On the way to the mine, Stephen was slightly nervous about going back.

"You got this, Stephen," he assured himself. "First time you went into that old mine, you stuck in it! It took a long time before you were able to get out!"

He took a deep breath and smiled confidently.

"But Glynn needs my help! I must rescue my friend!"

He boldly ventured on, past a very surprised Millie, who was trundling along with empty trucks when she looked over at him.

"Stephen?" she wondered. "Where are you going now?"

"Glynn is stuck in the mine, Millie! I must save him!"

Millie expressed a look of surprise as he rocketed past her.

Once Stephen arrived at the entrance to the mine, he stopped and gazed at it for a couple seconds.

"Wow!" he marveled.

He gulped and sighed heavily.

"Alright," he decided. "Onward!"

He bravely ventured forward and let off his whistle long and loud as he went inside.

Stephen entered the old mine and was pretty sure of himself as he made it past a few inches.

"Who am I kidding?" he assured himself. "There's nothing to be frightened of!"

He chuckled slightly, which became weaker as he took a look around.

As Stephen looked all round at the mine, everything seemed strange and unusual.

"Easy now, Stephen," he murmured to himself, his lamp shining against the track. "Just find Glynn and get outta here! He ought to be round here somewhere - woahhhh!"

He wailed as he tumbled over the wobbly track.

"Phew!" he sighed with relief. "That was a close one…ahhhhh!"

He wailed again as he turned at a sharp bend, which bought him round the corner into the heart of the mine.

"Alright, ol' boy!" he decided determinedly to himself. "Sightseeing's over! Let's find Glynn and leave this place!"

He blew his whistle long and loud.

"Glynn! Glynn!" he called out.

He continued to whistle as he ventured through, and eventually started to cower slightly.

Stephen wasn't feeling so fearless anymore. However, his headlamp shone brightly to help him see, so he struggled bravely on.

"I'll find him! Even if I get stuck again in this mine as well!"

His loud and long whistle echoed throughout the mine.

"Glynn!" he shouted. "Where are you, Glynn?! Glynnnnn!"

He let out one more loud and long whistle when…

"Hello?!" a faint voice called out.

Stephen stopped.

"Glynn?" he gasped.

"Hello!"

"Glynnnn!" Stephen shouted out.

He blew his whistle long and loud once more as he rushed forward.

"Stephen?" Glynn called back.

"I'm coming, Glynn! Hang on tight!"

"Stephen!"

"Glynn!"

His lamp shone brightly toward the track.

"Stephen!" the Coffeepot engine beamed with joy.

Stephen had finally found Glynn with his empty trucks in the siding where he had been parked. His driver and fireman were enjoying a nice cup of hot cocoa in his cab.

"Oh, Stephen, you came for me! Thank goodness!"

"Don't worry, Glynn!" his friend promised. "I'll have you out of here in no time! Come along now! Follow me!"

He proceeded to reverse up the track, as Glynn followed him up the track. The Coffeepot engine smiled as the Rocket engine shone his lamp towards him.

"Thank you so much for rescuing me, Stephen! I must say too, you must have been really brave to go down into this mine all by yourself!"

Stephen sighed and smiled meekly at his friend.

"Well, ermm, I didn't actually go down here earlier, Glynn!" he humbly admitted.

"Whatever do you mean, Stephen?"

"I was only pretending that I did! I only managed to make it past a few inches!"

Glynn widened his eyes with surprise.

"Well, then why did you go on boasting about it?!"

Stephen's face went red with embarrassment.

"I claimed I had the courage to handle almost anything else, and I, err…wanted to strive to keep that status!"

"Ooh! I see!"

Glynn raised an eyebrow as he listened on.

"But I was willing to risk my only fear to save my friend from being trapped down here!"

He thought even harder, then chuckled.

"And besides," he went on, "I remember very well what it was like being trapped down here long ago! I don't know how we would have managed the tours without you, Glynn, but at the same time, I can only imagine what it would be like for you to be trapped down all by yourself and wait for ages to be rescued!"

Glynn smiled as he followed Stephen further up the track towards the exit of the mine.


The two friends arrived back at the castle, where Millie and the Earl were waiting.

"Glynn! Stephen! Thank goodness!" the Earl expressed. "I was just about to send a search party for you both! But it's a good thing you both are okay!"

"Thanks to Stephen!" Glynn admitted, "had it not been for his bravery to enter that mine and get me out!"

"Hooray for Stephen!" Millie whistled aloud.

Stephen blushed and chuckled slightly.

"No, really," he admitted. "Don't do all that now! It was nothing, really!"

The Earl chuckled.

"Now, don't be modest, Stephen! You were very quick about it, and quite brave too!"

"Well, I suppose…" Stephen thought.

"Now," the Earl went on, "Stephen and Glynn, I suggest you both go back to the sheds for a rest before your next tours are scheduled! Millie, will you take these empty trucks back to the quarry?"

"With pleasure, sir!"

Stephen looked over and sighed.

"Actually, sir, I can take the trucks and Millie can have a rest at the sheds in my place!"

"Oh," the Earl pondered, as Millie listened with surprise.

"It'd be more than fair considering that I put her on waste duty for a bet that I wasn't able to fulfill my end of the bargain on!"

"Huh?!" Millie wondered.

"You heard me, Millie. I was only able to make it into the mine past a few inches!"

"Well…!" Millie splutttered.

"I'm really sorry, Millie!"

Millie raised an eyebrow for a moment, then smiled.

"Well, in that case…, apology accepted, Stephen!"

The three friends smiled at each other, and Stephen sighed with relief.


Stephen doesn't mind the old mine now, and often takes the time in between tours to collect lead that the miners had dug up. He is pretty confident that he has the courage to handle anything now…

"Ah," he sighed, as he backed down onto some trucks of lead. "It's just like I said, there's absolutely nothing I'm afraid of!"

"Get clear!" a foreman shouted.

"Yikes!"

Stephen freaked out at the sound of a loud bomb going off. Skarloey and Peter Sam noticed this and giggled as they passed by with trucks of lead for the Quarry.

"Oh," Stephen thought.

He chuckled slightly as he set off with the lead trucks.

or so he claims…!


And so the Ulfstead trio have shone a share of the spotlight in my latest set! I was glad to have it be the case too since none of them really got a starring role last set other than facing off against Bulgy at the end. Stephen is also another character I haven't written for in the spotlight before so having him be front and center here was a lot of fun with his overconfident personality that surfaced slightly in S20-21 in addition to him being an old, wise engine. The plot of this story was honestly inspired by The Old Bridge back in season 7, only Stephen's personality flows in a way that doesn't detract from him being his usual self, unlike the said S7 episode where Skarloey just acted way out of character. In the end, Stephen learns from Glynn getting lost down in the mine that desperate times call for desperate measures, and in the end, he plucks up courage and faces his only fear to rescue a friend in need. Thomas made a good appearance as well, being key to increasing Stephen's anxiety about the mine since he was a participant of his search party/rescue. The next entry should be coming along very soon; it will feature another character I've never given the spotlight before, as well as the first of new characters for this set. Be sure to leave thoughts on this story, and as always, stay tuned for...


Marion And The Blisters - the miniature engines are annoyed by Marion's belief that they are magic and play a trick on her by pretending to grant her a wish, which backfires when Marion actually makes a discovery in the Arlesdale mines!

Be The Better Engine - Philip is often susceptible to bullying from Diesel. However, when rumors spread about Diesel and the other engines start to pick on him, Philip seizes an opportunity to get even with Diesel by jumping in on their treatment of him, unaware of how it affects Diesel himself!

Rebecca's Challenge - James shows no secret for his dislike of trucks and complains about it to Rebecca who challenges him to take her passengers while she pulls his trucks. James accepts, thinking that Rebecca will realize why he doesn't like pulling goods, but things go unexpected as the trucks take a liking to Rebecca and the passengers are not quite so impressed with James himself…

Nelson Gets Carried Away - Nelson feels insecure when Miss Jenny brings in a new ballast tractor called Nigel to help out. He feels as if Nigel was brought in to replace him, and vows to prove himself worthy, even if it takes overworking himself!

Nigel Knows It All - Nigel the Ballast Tractor, the newest addition to the Pack, is tasked with numerous different jobs to do. However, he is too afraid to admit his inability to process different pieces of information, and ends up causing a great deal of confusion…